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St Nicholas (church Of England)

Great Hormead

Hertfordshire

Nave C13 or earlier, late C13 3-bay N aisle and arcade, early C14 4-bay S aisle and nave and N aisle lengthened by a W bay, later C14 W tower built over W bay of nave and aisles shortened, C15 top to tower and nave clerestory

Architectural Features

Roofs part metal, part old red tile

A village church with square ended chancel, clerestoryed nave of 3 bays and aisles all with parapets, south porch and organ chamber and an embattled W tower with pyramidial tile roof and diagonal buttresses

Chancel has encaustic and glazed tile pavement at alter and fleur-de-lis tiled E rear wall with carved reredos recessed below E window

Wall monument in white and grey marble c.1815 by Kendrick of a Grecian sarcophagus with word Waterloo in an oval wreath to Lt-Col Stables

Tall nave has late C13 N arcade with 2-centred arches of 2 chamfered orders on octagonal columns with moulded caps and bases

S arcade early C14 with 2-centred arches, octagonal columns with moulded caps and bases, also with C19 narrow arch at E end but springing of original 4th bay at W end

Six carved head corbels support wall posts of former open timber roof now sealed between tie-beams

N aisle has N door, 4 windows on N, a 3-light E window, screened off vestry at W (1974) and a recessed brass wall plate 1696 to William Delawood of London recording a bequest

S aisle has C15 S door, 3 S windows and C19 arch into organ chamber at E. Grotesque head corbels support the aisle roofs, low pitched with moulded principals, purlins, cornices and traceried brackets off wallposts

3-stage W tower with wide late C14 tower arch of 3 chamfered orders with 3 engaged jamb shafts separated by hollows, W window, heavy moulded beams, embattled wallplates, and circular bell opening over lower stage

Font late C12 a plain octagonal basin chamfered top and bottom set on a thick circular stem encircled by 8 plain circular shafts

Wall monument at W end of S aisle to William Brand 1746/7 in white and black marble, a swagged tablet with Ionic 3/4 columns supporting an entablature with wreathed achievement over.

Photo coming soon